Yoga Teachers' Training Course

From August 3 to 30 2015

The TTC began over 40 years ago, is recognized worldwide and has produced more than 26,000 graduates. Swami Vishnudevananda was the first in the West to develop this kind of training program for yoga teachers with the vision to not only develop successful yoga professionals, but also to spread peace in the world through them.

The four-week intensive course covers all aspects of yoga in theory and practice, based on the ancient teaching system in which the student’s daily life is fully integrated into the yoga training. Successful graduates will receive an internationally-recognised certificate from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre with links to the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy founded by HH Swami Sivananda Saraswati of the Divine Life Society (DLS) India. This is recognized by the Yoga Alliance in the USA and Canada at the 200 hour level and many national yoga organisations in Europe and elsewhere. In Italy there is no governmental regulation for yoga teachers at this time.

All aspects of the different branches of classical yoga practice are included. There is no prerequisite for the course. However, we do recommend, if you have the opportunity, that you visit one of our centres or ashrams to familiarise yourself with our practice. Openness to new ideas and willingness to learn are important.

The TTC provides a fantastic opportunity to awaken or deepen your yoga practice, meet old and new friends, and to be a part of the global yoga community which is growing each day. The best part of all is learning that everything we need is already within us and how the practices can lead us into accessing our gifts and beauty from the inside out. The experience provides a great way to find long lasting happiness, peace and the ability to share the yogic lifestyle with others.

Curriculum

Yoga Asana

Sun salutation, 12 basic yoga postures

Advanced Variations

Benefits of the postures

Postural alignment

Deep relaxation with autosuggestion

Pranayama

The basic practice, kapalabhati and anuloma viloma

Advanced Pranayama exercises

Kriya

The six classical exercises for purifying the body

Explanation and demonstration of the exercises and their effects

The Four Paths of Yoga

Karma Yoga (selfless service), Bhakti Yoga ( includes attendance at the devotional rituals including Puja, arati, introduction to the Indian deities and their cosmic meaning) , Raja Yoga ( the mind its mysteries and control) and Jnana Yoga ( The Yoga of Knowledge and Self Realization)

Anatomy and Physiology

The effects of Asanas and Pranayama on the major body systems

How to Teach

How to teach the 12 basic postures and breathing exercises to beginners and intermediate students

The basic Sivananda class

Setting up of a proper environment for class

General pointers on teaching a class

Yoga for Children

Yoga for Older Citizens

Yoga for Pregnancy

Relaxation

In the second half of the training course, participants will teach each other under the guidance of an experienced instructor

Yogic Diet and Nutrition

Vegetarianism â for ethical, spiritual and health reasons

How diet affects the mind

Proper balance of the main nutrients

Ayurvedic principles of nutrition

Healing effects of fasting

Meditation

Guide to meditation

What is meditation

Why meditate

Physical and mental meditation

12-step daily practice

Effects of and experiences in meditation

Mantras â spiritual energy in sound

Mantra initiation (if desired)

Mantra and Kirtan (chanting)

Chanting of classical Sanskrit mantras

The effects of chanting

Correct Pronunciation and mental attitude

Bhagavad Gita

Study and commentary of the classical scripture

Daily Schedule

5:30 am: Wake up

6:00 am: Satsang (Meditation, chanting, lecture)

8:00 am: Asanas

9:00 am: Anatomy and physiology

10:00 am: Wake up

11:00 am: Karma Yoga (helping out with chores)

12:00 pm: Bhagavad Gita or Kirtan

2:00 pm: Main lecture in philosophy or anatomy

4:00 pm: Asanas and pranayama

6:00 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: Satsang (Meditation, chanting, lecture)

10:00 pm: Lights out

THE LOCATION

Borgo Paola

Borgo Paola borders 100 hectares of the Castello Orsini-Odeschalchi forest; the proximity to the forest creates the ideal energy for this course. The rooms are furnished with style and attention to detail providing welcoming accommodations. The expansive grounds, including a swimming pool and 200 square meter hall provides the perfect environment for the practice of yoga and meditation.

Borgo Paola lies only 400 meters from Lake Bracciano and only 200 meters from the center of the town. From Rome it is a mere 30 km, and 45 km from the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, accessible by car, train, and regional bus service.

How to Find Us

Borgo Paola, via del Micciaro 11/B, (reached by Via del Pianello)

00062 Bracciano located in the village of Pisciarelli.

Arriving from Rome

At the traffic light at the intersection of Braccianese, Bracciano Centro and Certiveri, continue straight towards Manziana until a large curve where an arrow indicates Pisciarelli. Follow in this direction, over the bridge until the second sign "Pisciarelli" on the right. Take this turn and continue until the Church square and take the immediate left turn, descending, and then turn right onto Via del Pianello which leads to Via del Micciaro.

Transportation service from the Bracciano train station to Borgo Paola: € 12

HOW TO REGISTER

Be sure to complete the Registration Form and to read carefully and sign the Rules and Regulations and return the forms along with a photograph to the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Rome with a deposit of the equivalent of 30% of the total amount non-refundable (for further payment details please contact the Rome Centre). We will send you a receipt and confirmation of your reservation. The deposit (non-refundable) will secure a place (subject to availability). Full payment is required one month before the course starts.

HOW TO MAKE PAYMENTS

Deposits and payments for the course can be made by bank transfer or credit card.

The course fees include a €30 membership fee to the Centro Yoga Vedanta Sivananda, Rome (a requirement of Italian law). Please bring all receipts with you to the Course

MONEY AND CURRENCY

The currency is in Euros €. You will need Euros for purchases at the boutique, for the Friday excursions, for laundry and for the text books and kriya equipment required for the course. We regret that we can only take cash at the Course. Please note that there are no currency-changing facilities at the Course and there are no banks nearby. The Course fee includes your accommodation, tuition, manual, meals and uniform. Transportation is not included. You will need money for any extra personal expenses during your stay.

COURSE FEES

€ 2400 Tent

€ 2650 Dorm

€ 2900 Rome with 3 - 4 beds

€ 3200 Double room

WHAT TO BRING

You will receive two sets of uniform of two pairs of white yoga trousers and two yellow t-shirts, which you will be required to wear during Satsang and all lectures. For asana and pranayama classes, meal times and karma yoga you can wear your own clothes. Please remember that you will be in a spiritual organisation and that clothing should be loose fitting and modest.

The weather can be warm/hot during the day and cooler at night. You will need light cotton clothing for yoga classes, comfortable clothing for outside excursions, nightwear, rainwear, sweater, slipper-type shoes, (we recommend easy slip-on shoes, as we remove shoes before entering all buildings), walking shoes, toiletries, towel, swimwear, yoga mat, cushion, shawl for meditation, pens, notebooks, alarm clock, and flashlight. If you have booked inside accommodation you do not need to bring any sheets, pillow or blankets.

Camping: If you have booked a tent space, please bring everything necessary for camping.Tent, bedding, blankets, pegs, etc for camping are not provided. You are advised to bring a tarpaulin to put over your tent for protection against rain.

Books: You are required to have two texts used as teaching material during the course: The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnudevananda and the Bhagavad Gita with commentary by Swami Sivananda. The Sivananda Companion to Yoga, (The New Book of Yoga) is recommended but not a prerequisite. These can be purchased on arrival in the boutique (total approximately €75). Please send your order for these books by email to

www. sivananda.org/rome. Please pay on arrival.

Kriya Equipment: You will need a neti pot and catheter for the kriya class. These can be purchased at the boutique (approximately €10).

ARRIVAL

The inauguration ceremony for the Course will take place on Monday August 4, 2014.Departure date Monday September 1, 2014.

COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

In order to maintain a peaceful atmosphere, we will assign an area for use of mobile (cell) phones. All phones must be turned off in the accommodation areas, and during all classes and karma yogi times. WI-FI available, e recommend minimal use.

BOUTIQUE

Most small items that you might require while staying for the course can be purchased at the Course boutique.

FREE TIME

There is very little free time each day between classes. On one day each week (usually Friday) there is free time between the end of the morning satsang (8am) and the beginning of the evening satsang (8pm), with the exception of your allocated karma yoga tasks. At this time only you are free to leave the premises.

VISITORS DURING THE COURSE

Visitors are allowed only during the free day between 8am and 8pm and are most welcome to participate in our Yoga Vacation Program, see The yoga Vacation program in our website

REFUND POLICY

In case of cancelation before the beginning of the course the deposit will not be refund.

In case of early departure from the course, the following cancellation fees apply to the full course amount € 150 euro, minus the days present in the course: Only full daily rates.

In case of early departure from the course, the TTC course manual and TTC uniforms (2 trousers / 2 t-shirts) must be returned before leaving the teaching location. Only then can we authorize the transfer of the course fee minus the cancellation fees.

Should you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. We very much look forward to welcoming you at the Course.